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Thursday, April 23rd, 2026
the Third Week after Easter
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Read the Bible

The Darby Translation

Matthew 23:30

and ye say, If we had been in the days of our fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Ecclesiasticism;   Hypocrisy;   Pharisees;   Satire;   Self-Righteousness;   Teachers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Self-Justification-Self-Condemnation;   Self-Righteousness;   The Topic Concordance - Hypocrisy;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Pharisees, the;   Self-Righteousness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Hypocrisy;   Matthew, gospel of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anger;   Hypocrisy;   Kill, Killing;   Persecution;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Supralapsarians;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Father;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Pharisees;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Matthew, the Gospel of;   Salutation;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Hypocrite;   Judas Iscariot;   Scribes;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Blood ;   Children of God;   Claim;   Common Life;   Courage;   Discourse;   Error;   Fathers;   Judgment;   Law of God;   Man (2);   Mental Characteristics;   Old Testament (I. Christ as Fulfilment of);   Old Testament (Ii. Christ as Student and Interpreter of).;   Paradox;   Quotations (2);   Reality;   Sabbath ;   Sacrifice (2);   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Self-Control;   Woe;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Scribes;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Pharisee;   Scribe;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Father;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Day;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hypocrisy;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’
King James Version (1611)
And say, If wee had beene in the dayes of our fathers, wee would not haue bene partakers with them in the blood of the Prophets.
King James Version
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
English Standard Version
saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
New American Standard Bible
and you say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
New Century Version
You say, ‘If we had lived during the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill the prophets.'
Amplified Bible
and you say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have joined them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
Legacy Standard Bible
and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
Berean Standard Bible
And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
Contemporary English Version
And you claim that you would not have taken part with your ancestors in killing the prophets.
Complete Jewish Bible
and you say, ‘Had we lived when our fathers did, we would never have taken part in killing the prophets.'
Easy-to-Read Version
And you say, ‘If we had lived during the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped them kill these prophets.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And say, If we had bene in the dayes of our fathers, we would not haue bene partners with them in the blood of the Prophets.
George Lamsa Translation
And you say, If we had been living in the days of our forefathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Good News Translation
and you claim that if you had lived during the time of your ancestors, you would not have done what they did and killed the prophets.
Lexham English Bible
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets!'
Literal Translation
And you say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
American Standard Version
and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Bible in Basic English
If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in the blood of the prophets.
Hebrew Names Version
and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we wouldn't have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
International Standard Version
Then you say, 'If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in sheddingshedding">[fn] the blood of the prophets.'
Etheridge Translation
If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been with them partakers in the blood of the prophets:
Murdock Translation
and ye say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been participators with them in the blood of the prophets.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And say, yf we had ben in the dayes of our fathers, we woulde not haue ben parteners with them in the blood of the prophetes.
English Revised Version
and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
World English Bible
and say, 'If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Weymouth's New Testament
and your boast is, "`If we had lived in the time of our forefathers, we should not have been implicated with them in the murder of the Prophets.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seien, If we hadden be in the daies of oure fadris, we schulden not haue be her felowis in the blood of prophetis.
Update Bible Version
and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we should not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Webster's Bible Translation
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
New English Translation
And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have participated with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
New King James Version
and say, "If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.'
New Living Translation
Then you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would never have joined them in killing the prophets.'
New Life Bible
You say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our early fathers, we would not have helped kill the early preachers.'
New Revised Standard
and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and say - If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their partners in the blood of the prophets:
Douay-Rheims Bible
And say: If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Revised Standard Version
saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and saye: Yf we had bene in the dayes of oure fathers we wolde not have bene parteners with them in the bloud of the Prophetes.
Young's Literal Translation
and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and saye: Yf we had bene in oure fathers tyme, we wolde not haue bene partakers with them in the bloude of the prophetes.
Mace New Testament (1729)
and say, if we had liv'd in the time of our forefathers, we would not have been accessory with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.
Simplified Cowboy Version
You say, 'If we lived way back then, we wouldn't have been a part of the posse that murdered these great people!'

Contextual Overview

13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for *ye* do not enter, nor do ye suffer those that are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass the sea and the dry [land] to make one proselyte, and when he is become [such], ye make him twofold more [the] son of hell than yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. Fools and blind, for which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is a debtor. [Fools and] blind ones, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift? He therefore that swears by the altar swears by it and by all things that are upon it. And he that swears by the temple swears by it and by him that dwells in it. And he that swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him that sits upon it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and ye have left aside the weightier matters of the law, judgment and mercy and faith: these ye ought to have done and not have left those aside. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat, but drink down the camel. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but within they are full of rapine and intemperance. Blind Pharisee, make clean first the inside of the cup and of the dish, that their outside also may become clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye are like whited sepulchres, which appear beautiful outwardly, but within are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Thus also *ye*, outwardly ye appear righteous to men, but within are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets and adorn the tombs of the just, and ye say, If we had been in the days of our fathers we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. So that ye bear witness of yourselves that ye are sons of those who slew the prophets: and *ye*, fill ye up the measure of your fathers. Serpents, offspring of vipers, how should ye escape the judgment of hell? Therefore, behold, *I* send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; and [some] of them ye will kill and crucify, and [some] of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and will persecute from city to city; so that all righteous blood shed upon the earth should come upon *you*, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [the city] that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate; for I say unto you, Ye shall in no wise see me henceforth until ye say, Blessed [be] he that comes in the name of [the] Lord. 14 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have set themselves down in Moses' seat: all things therefore, whatever they may tell you, do and keep. But do not after their works, for they say and do not, but bind burdens heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but will not move them with their finger. And all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders [of their garments], and love the chief place in feasts and the first seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market-places, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But *ye*, be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your instructor, and all *ye* are brethren. And call not [any one] your father upon the earth; for one is your Father, he who is in the heavens. Neither be called instructors, for one is your instructor, the Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; for *ye* do not enter, nor do ye suffer those that are entering to go in. 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for ye compass the sea and the dry [land] to make one proselyte, and when he is become [such], ye make him twofold more [the] son of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor. 17 Fools and blind, for which is greater, the gold, or the temple which sanctifies the gold? 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gift that is upon it is a debtor. 19 [Fools and] blind ones, for which is greater, the gift, or the altar which sanctifies the gift? 20 He therefore that swears by the altar swears by it and by all things that are upon it. 21 And he that swears by the temple swears by it and by him that dwells in it. 22 And he that swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him that sits upon it.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the blood: Matthew 23:34, Matthew 23:35, Matthew 21:35, Matthew 21:36, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Jeremiah 2:30

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 21:16 - Manasseh 2 Chronicles 29:6 - For our fathers Ezra 9:7 - Since the days Psalms 37:14 - slay Psalms 50:18 - partaker Psalms 72:14 - precious Ecclesiastes 1:10 - it hath Jeremiah 26:15 - ye shall Zechariah 1:2 - Lord Matthew 23:37 - thou Matthew 27:25 - His Luke 20:11 - entreated Revelation 16:6 - they have Revelation 18:4 - partakers

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And say, if we had been in the days of our fathers,.... Their ancestors and predecessors: signifying, that if they had lived in the times they did, or had been in the same post and office with them, they should have opposed, at least not consented to their measures:

we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets; would not have joined them in persecuting the prophets, and in shedding their blood, and putting them to death; but would have received them as the prophets of the Lord, have hearkened to their advice and message, and have honoured and obeyed them as such; and this they thought they sufficiently declared, by building and adorning their tombs.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And say ... - This they professed to say by rebuilding their tombs. They also, probably, publicly expressed their disapprobation of the conduct of their fathers. All this, in building and ornamenting tombs, was a profession of extraordinary piety. Our Lord showed them it was mere pretence.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 30. We would not have been partakers — They imagined themselves much better than their ancestors; but our Lord, who knew what they would do, uncovers their hearts, and shows them that they are about to be more abundantly vile than all who had ever preceded them.


 
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